22 militants killed in joint IBO in KP’s Khyber District: ISPR

Security forces killed 22 militants during a joint intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Khyber District, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.

According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, the operation was carried out on April 21 after reports of militant presence in the area. Troops, along with law enforcement agencies, engaged the suspected militants in an exchange of fire.

The ISPR said the militants belonged to what it described as “Fitna al Khawarij”, a term used by the state for members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). It added that all 22 militants were killed during the operation.

During the firefight, the militants reportedly resorted to indiscriminate firing, which led to the death of a 10-year-old child. The ISPR termed the incident as a result of the militants’ attempt to evade capture.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the site. According to the statement, the militants had been involved in various attacks in the region.

A follow-up sanitisation operation is underway to clear the area of any remaining militants, the ISPR added.